The fleeing suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, said he was apprehended in Abuja.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended him and written to the Inspector General of Police to arrest and investigate him after he failed to honour the Commission’s invitation to Abuja to explain his actions in Adamawa State.

Yunusa-Ari had fled and gone into hiding after announcing Aisha Dahiru Ahmed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State, in clear violation of the Electoral Act and Constitution not being the Returning Officer of the election.  

President Muhammadu Buhari consequently ordered his arrest and prosecution called for the arrest of Yunusa-Ari, but the REC, who was sighting boarding a private jet with registration number – (NG) 5N-IKO at exactly 12.58pm that Sunday, was said to be nowhere to be found by INEC.

Sources say, upon his arrest on Tuesday, the disgraced REC insisted he had done no wrong by declaring Aisha Binani winner of the polls.